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ISN’T IT TIME

from RAY KENNEDY

Written by Ray Kennedy & Jack Conrad

“I met Ray Kennedy through his songwriting partner, Jack Conrad. Jack and I met in the seventies when Jay Graydon and I collaborated on his first disco project, The Bottom Line. I remember Ray being really fun to work with and a really great singer. He was also a good songwriter. I think I was actually too soft for his style because he was more of a rocker. Ray and Jack co-wrote a couple of hits for a band called The Babys including “Isn’t It Time” that we covered for his 1980 album.”

As David Foster mentioned in his note, “Isn’t It Time” was co-written by the late, Ray Kennedy (1946-2014) and Jack Conrad (1944-2017). “Isn’t It Time” became a 1977 top twenty hit for the British rock band, The Babys. The group, who featured noted singer/songwriter John Waite, reached #13 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with “Isn’t It Time.”  A couple years later, The Babys’ same songwriting team gave the group another #13 hit single with “Every Time I Think Of You.”

Kennedy hooked up with Foster at the end of the seventies to work on his second solo album after his 1970 debut. Kennedy’s record was a lesser-known Foster production that delivered all The Hitman’s trademark goods with deluxe production, fantastic musicianship and solid songwriting. The bulk of the album was co-written by Kennedy and Conrad with Foster helping out on a couple of numbers. Among the musicians were Toto’s fabled rhythm section which included the incomparable Jeff Porcaro (1954-1992) on drums, the remarkable Mike Porcaro (1955-2015) on bass, Steve Lukather heard on guitars and the synthesizer programming of Steve Porcaro plus other session aces including the great Jerry Hey Horns, Mike Baird, Jay Winding and Bob Glaub.

The aforementioned “Isn’t It Time” was reworked here with excellent results. The arrangement was powerful yet more sophisticated than The Baby’s original hit. Kennedy’s vocals were strong and delivered a bluesy feel that bore a resemblance to the brilliant Robert Palmer (1949-2003). The singer was supported by some killer vocal harmonies courtesy of studio greats Bill Champlin, Tom Kelly and Tommy Funderburk. “Isn’t It Time” became the b-side of Ray Kennedy’s single, “Just For The Moment,” that went to #82 on Billboard’s Hot 100. That was Kennedy’s only appearance on the legendary Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.


Listen



  • Keyboards & Synthesizers: David Foster
  • Drums: Jeff Porcaro
  • Bass: Mike Porcaro
  • Guitars: Steve Lukather
  • Castenets: Paul Laney
  • Synthesizers Porgramming: Ralph Dyck & Steve Porcaro
  • Background Vocals: Bill Champlin, Jack Conrad, Tommy Funderburk, Tom Kelly, Venette    Gloud & Paulette Brown
  • Arranged by David Foster & Ray Kennedy
  • Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

Falling in love was the last thing I had on my mind
Holding you is the warmth that I thought I could never find

Just trying to decide
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, whether to go on alone)
Or stay by your side?
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, then I stop myself because)
I know I could cry

I just can’t find the answers
To the questions that keep going through my mind
Hey babe
Isn’t it time?

Isn’t it time?
(Isn’t it time you took time to wait?)
(Falling in love could be your mistake)

I’ve seen visions of someone like you in my life
A love that’s strong reaching out holding me through the darkest night

Just trying to decide
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, whether to go on alone)
Or stay by your side?
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, then I stop myself because)
I don’t want to cry

I just can’t find the answers
To the questions that keep going through my mind
Hey babe
Isn’t it time?

Isn’t it time?
(Maybe it’s time you took time to wait)
(Falling in love could be your mistake)

I feel a warmth in my heart and my soul that I never knew
This love affair gives me strength that I need just to get me through

Just wondering: why?
(Ooh ooh ooh. then I stop myself because)
I know I could cry
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, then I think of you)
And everything seems alright

I’ve finally found the answers
To the questions that keep going through my mind
Hey babe
Isn’t it time?

I know it’s time
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
Ooh yeah, I know it’s time
(Isn’t it time you don’t have to wait?)
It must be time
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
Yeah, it must be time
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
Made up my mind
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
It must be time
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
It must be time
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
Yeah
(Isn’t it time?)
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
(Don’t have to wait)
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
(Isn’t it time?)
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
(Don’t have to wait)
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
(Isn’t it time?)
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
(Don’t have to wait)
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
(Isn’t it time?)
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
(Don’t have to wait)
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
(Isn’t it time?)
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
(Don’t have to wait)
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
(Losing this love)